Nahum 3:6 — Word Study
WLCוְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י עָלַ֛יִךְ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּרֹֽאִי׃
BSAto throwshâlak■ uponʻal abominationshiqqûwts be senselessnâbêl■ to setsûwm■ sightrŏʼîy
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י | and I will throw | Verb, Hiphil, sequential perfect first person common singular |
| עָלַ֛יִךְ | on you | Preposition, suffix |
| שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים | detestable things | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ | and I will treat with contempt you | Verb piel sequential perfect first person common singular, suffix |
| וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ | and I will make you | Verb qal sequential perfect first person common singular, suffix |
| כְּרֹֽאִי׃ | like a spectacle | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; I will make a spectacle of you. |
| KJV | And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock. |
| ASV | And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock. |
| YLT | And I have cast upon thee abominations, And dishonoured thee, and made thee as a sight. |
| WEB | I will throw abominable filth on you and make you vile, and will make you a spectacle. |
| BBE | I will make you completely disgusting and full of shame, and will put you up to be looked at by all. |
Where they part company is שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים — see How Translations Differ.
The main action is clear, with two subordinate clauses detailing the nature of the judgment.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Nahum 3:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment Against Ninevehgenerated
Nahum 3:6 is part of a prophecy where God pronounces judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, known for its cruelty and idolatry. The surrounding verses describe the severity of this judgment, emphasizing that Nineveh will be exposed and humiliated before the nations, illustrating the consequences of its actions and the ultimate sovereignty of God.
The Key Word — שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים, shi.ku.Tzimgenerated
The noun שִׁקּוּץ (shiqquwts) refers to something that is detestable or abominable, often associated with idolatry and practices that are offensive to God. This word carries a strong negative connotation, indicating something that is not only disgusting but also morally reprehensible.
In this verse, it signifies the filth that God will cast upon Nineveh, representing both physical and spiritual defilement. The use of the plural form suggests a multitude of abominable things, underscoring the extent of Nineveh's corruption.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is הִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י, and I will throw, which governs the entire clause. This is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the target of the action, and two additional clauses that describe the actions of treating with contempt and making a spectacle.
The structure emphasizes the severity of the judgment through the sequence of actions, culminating in the public humiliation of Nineveh, which is highlighted by the final clause describing the spectacle.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים as βδελυγμὸν, which carries a similar meaning of something detestable or abhorrent. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of Nineveh's actions as deserving of divine contempt.
The use of παράδειγμα for כְּרֹֽאִי suggests a focus on the visual aspect of the spectacle, reinforcing the idea that Nineveh's shame will be evident to all.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nahum 3:6 reveals God's judgment against Nineveh, where He declares that He will throw detestable things upon the city, treat it with contempt, and make it a spectacle for all to see. This verse emphasizes the seriousness of Nineveh's sins and the consequences they will face.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a divine judgment where Nineveh's sins will be publicly exposed and ridiculed, showcasing the city's disgrace.
Nineveh is treated with contempt due to its history of cruelty, idolatry, and rebellion against God, leading to its ultimate downfall.
Being made a spectacle means that Nineveh's shame will be visible to all nations, serving as a warning and a demonstration of God's justice.
This verse reflects God's holiness and justice, as He does not tolerate sin and will hold nations accountable for their actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I see God's justice in the world today, similar to Nineveh's judgment?
- How can I ensure that I am not participating in actions that God would consider detestable?
- In what ways can I be a witness to God's justice and mercy in my community?
- How does understanding God's judgment against Nineveh affect my view of sin and repentance?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; I will make a spectacle of you.
I will throw abominable filth on you and make you vile, and will make you a spectacle.
I will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; I will make a spectacle of you.
I will pelt you with filth; I will treat you with contempt; I will make you a public spectacle.
Tyndale line
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock.
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock.
And I will cast filth vpon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gasing stocke.
Strictly literal
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing stock.
And I have cast upon thee abominations, And dishonoured thee, and made thee as a sight.
And I have cast on you abominations, || And dishonored you, and made you as a sight.
And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and defile thee, and will render thee a dirt-heap.
I will throw disgusting filth on you and make you vile; I will make you someone that everyone will look at.
From the Latin
And I will cast abominations upon thee, and will disgrace thee, and will make an example of thee.
Simplified
I will throw filth at you. I will treat you with contempt, and make a spectacle of you.
I will make you completely disgusting and full of shame, and will put you up to be looked at by all.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text (MT) reads: 'וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י עָלַ֛יִךְ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּרֹֽאִי׃' The Septuagint (LXX) matches the MT closely with a word-for-word correspondence, indicating agreement in meaning, though the order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (Mur88) contain partial and restored words, showing that it agrees with the MT in essence but lacks complete clarity due to the condition of the text. Overall, the primary witnesses (MT, LXX, and Mur88) convey a similar message, with the MT being the most complete and coherent version available.
וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י עָלַ֛יִךְ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּרֹֽאִי׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[והשלכתי] [עלי׳ך] שקוצים ונבלתי׳ך ושמתי׳ך [כראי]
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Nahum 3:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׁלַךְ (shalak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw, cast, or fling. It can be used literally or figuratively, covering actions like throwing away or casting lots. The Hiphil form indicates an active throwing, while the Hophal form suggests being thrown or cast. The entries collectively emphasize various nuances of throwing and casting.
[שָׁלַךְ] 125 vb. Hiph. 112 throw, fling, cast
Hoph.
be thrown, cast
be cast forth, out
be cast down
metaph., be cast
base
H7993 שָׁלַךְ Hiph. throw, fling, cast
7993 shalak shaw-lak
a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or
figuratively):--adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off,
out), hurl, pluck, throw.
שָׁלַךְ (sha.lakh) — to throw.
1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down
1a2) to cast (lots) (fig)
1b) (Hophal)
1b1) to be thrown, be cast
1b2) to be cast forth or out
1b3) to be cast down
1b4) to be cast (metaph)
Conj | V-Hiphil-Perf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect first person common singularHc/Vhq1cs
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2fs
שִׁקּוּץ (shiqquwts) refers to a detested or abominable thing, particularly in the context of idolatry. It is derived from a root meaning 'disgusting' or 'filthy.' The term is used to describe both idols and things that are considered detestable, highlighting its strong negative connotation.
שִׁקּוּץ, שִׁקֻּץ n.m. detested thing
base
H8251 שִׁקּוּץ, שִׁקֻּץ detested thing
8251 shiqquwts shik-koots'
or shiqquts {shik-koots'}; from 8262; disgusting, i.e.
filthy; especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol:--
abominable filth (idol, -ation), detestable (thing).
see HEBREW for 08262
שִׁקּוּץ (shiq.quts) — abomination.
detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
de-tes'-ta-b'-l, (shiqquts; sheqets, synonymous with to`ebhah, "abomination," "abominable thing"): The translation of shiqqutsim in Jer 16:18; Eze 5:11; 7:20; 11:18,21; 37:23; a term always applied to idol-worship or to objects connected with idolatry; often also translated "abomination," as in 1Ki 11:5,7 (bis); Jer 4:1; Eze 20:7,8,30. Sheqets, translated "abomination," is applied in the Scriptures to that which is ceremonially unclean (Le 7:21), creatures forbidden as food, as water animals without fins or scales in
נָבַל (nabal) has two main meanings: to be senseless or foolish, and to wither or fade. It can describe both a moral failing and a physical decline, such as a plant wilting. The word's usage in the Old Testament reflects these themes, though the lexicons do not present significant disagreement on its meanings.
נָבַל vb. be senseless, foolish
Qal if thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself
Pi. regard or treat as a נָבָל (q.v.), i.e. with contumely
base
נָבֵל vb. sink or drop down, languish, wither and fall, fade
Qal
sink or drop down
usu. fall like a leaf, or flower wither and fall, fade
base
H5034a נָבֵל be senseless, foolish H5034b נָבֵל sink or dropdown, languish, wither and fall, fade
5034 nabel naw-bale'
a primitive root; to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail,
faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally) wicked;
causatively, to despise, disgrace:--disgrace, dishounour,
lightly esteem, fade (away, - ing), fall (down, -ling, off),
do foolishly, come to nought, X surely, make vile, wither.
נָבַל (na.val) — be senseless.
1) to be senseless, be foolish
1a) (Qal) to be foolish
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to regard or treat as foolish
1b2) to treat with contempt
נָבֵל (na.vel) — to wither.
1) to sink or drop down, languish, wither and fall, fade
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sink or drop down
1a2) to fall, wither and fall, fade
1a3) to droop
Conj | V-Piel-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb piel sequential perfect first person common singular · suffixHc/Vpq1cs/Sp2fs
The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set
Qal
put, set, in a place
put something upon
put, lay, set
put, c. בֵּין
set, direct
set, ordain, in a place
set, establish a law, statute
set, found a nation
set, appoint (as ruler, official)
set, constitute, make
set, determine, fix, bounds
set, station, at a post
put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
set up altars
= plant, wheat
set, fix (countenance)
make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
make, constitute
work, bring to pass
appoint, give
set, fix (countenance)
Hiph. I will make him for a sign
Hoph. there was set before him
base
שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32
ref
H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place
. put something upon
. put, lay, set
. put, c. בֵּין
. set, direct
. . set, ordain, in a place
. set, establish a law, statute
. set, found a nation
. set, appoint (as ruler, official)
. set, constitute, make
. set, determine, fix, bounds
. . set, station, at a post
. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
. set up altars
. = plant, wheat
. set, fix (countenance)
. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
. make, constitute
. work, bring to pass
. appoint, give
. set, fix (countenance)
. I will make him for a sign
. there was set before him
H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl
7760 suwm soom
or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great
variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,
and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a
name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,
convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap
up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),
mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,
purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set
(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,
((over-))turn, X wholly, work.
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.
: make/establish
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix
1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give
1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign
1c) (Hophal) to be set
שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.
token of unluckiness, scowl
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.
: put/give
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal sequential perfect first person common singular · suffixHc/Vqq1cs/Sp2fs
רֳאִי (ro'iy) refers to concepts of sight, including looking, seeing, and appearance. It can denote both abstract vision and concrete spectacles. The term is derived from the root word for seeing, רָאָה (ra'ah), and encompasses various aspects of visual perception.
רֳאִי n.[m.] looking, seeing, sight
seeing
appearance
sight, (warning-)spectacle
base
H7210 רֳאִי looking, seeing, sight . seeing
. appearance
. sight, (warning-)spectacle
7210 ro'iy ro-ee'
from 7200; sight, whether abstractly (vision) or concretely
(a spectacle):--gazingstock, look to, (that) see(-th).
see HEBREW for 07200
רֳאִי (ro.i) — sight.
1) looking, appearance, seeing, sight
1a) seeing
1b) appearance
1c) sight, spectacle
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa